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A series of open loop tests was conducted on three vehicles instrumented per SAE J266 to determine the effect of a rear tire tread separation on the vehicles’ behavior. The vehicles tested were a 1989 Ford Bronco II, a 1996 Ford Explorer, and a 1993 Ford Taurus. The tests were categorized as tread separation event tests and tread-separated tests. The tread separation event tests were designed to determine how the vehicle responds as the tread is separating from the tire carcass at speeds ranging from 58–119 km/h (36–74 mph). Tires were prepared in a manner that would initiate either a complete or partial separation of the tread. The vehicle was driven on a straight path with the steering wheel held fixed as the tread came off. The tread-separated tests were run on vehicles where the tread was removed from one of the rear tires. The maneuvers conducted were circle turns per SAE J266 (constant radius and constant steer) and step steer turns.